What a shame......
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 15,116
Likes: 283
From: Salt Lake City Utah
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (stock)
What a shame......
I just got settled here in SLC and started looking for a project today. I went to look at a black 82 for sale, asking $10,900. As I looked it over I noticed a CE emblem on the front. I could look inside (very dark window tinting, could barely see through it) sure enough, a 82 CE painted black with 114,000 miles. Interior shot, seats, door panels, dash, steering wheel and carpeting rotted away.
The guy had how it would be easy and cheap to get it back to stock and threw the NADA numbers in his ad, $16,800. I happened to have some of my catalogs with me and looked up what it would take just on the interior and decals to get it close to originall after a new paint job before anyone touched the mechanical issues. About $4K in parts plus the cost of paint. Tempted to go back and see if it runs well and has any major issues, but would only pay around $3K, most likely will insult him but worth the shot. I don't think it's worth more, especially in today's market.
Either way, hated to see a worthy 82 CE painted black and owned by someone who will obviously let it continue to rot away.
The guy had how it would be easy and cheap to get it back to stock and threw the NADA numbers in his ad, $16,800. I happened to have some of my catalogs with me and looked up what it would take just on the interior and decals to get it close to originall after a new paint job before anyone touched the mechanical issues. About $4K in parts plus the cost of paint. Tempted to go back and see if it runs well and has any major issues, but would only pay around $3K, most likely will insult him but worth the shot. I don't think it's worth more, especially in today's market.
Either way, hated to see a worthy 82 CE painted black and owned by someone who will obviously let it continue to rot away.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 319
Likes: 3
From: santa clara ca
The question I always ask the seller is would he pay the asking price if he was in my shoes. Based on response and body language 9 OUT 10 times they would not. Then i point blank say so why should I. Now they get insulted............... oh well whats fair is fair.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 525
Likes: 0
From: Charlotte N.C.
Jon, I went for a country drive Friday evening and out in the country stopped and got gas, as I turned to exit to go back outside after paying and to begin pumping an 81 burgandy vette had pulled up beside me to get gas also. I couldnt wait to go out and talk with him. As I walked up, he complimented me on my 82 and of course we began talking. His car looked o.k. at 10ft. away, but the closer I got pretty bad, He said he was going to sell soon, and was asking 8,500 for it. I saw where it had 240,000 miles on the clock and it was stuck 
. The enterior was shot, and the dash cracked, shift boot rotten etc. I never looked underneath or under the hood. The rear had been backed into and needed to be replaced. Of course I just listened, I didnt say anything! I really think he thought that was a good deal, go figure.
TheCorvetteBen
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,987
Likes: 144
From: Van Alstyne, TX
Its very odd timing that this post showed up. On the way home from seeing a rusted out '81, i saw another old corvette in a storage complex just down the road(about 50 yards away behind a fence).
I called the number of the complex and asked the guy about the car. He gave me the number to get into the gate and also told me the car was for sale at $2000.
I immediatly got excited because thats inside my little brothers price range. What i found did not excite me.
The car had been sitting out for many years, last registered in 1998. The paint was absolutely shot, as fiberglass was showing. There was a few spots of damage on the body as well. The interior was COMPLETELY SHOT, as a window had been down for years and years. There was mold growing on the dash panels.
The worst part was that there was no engine and transmission. This car EVERYTHING would have to be redone. No joke, everything. I didnt even bother to look underneath the car...
Here is a pic:
$2,000 for a car with no engine or tranny? For a car that needs EVERY interior piece? for a car that needs body work AND paint work?
I called the number of the complex and asked the guy about the car. He gave me the number to get into the gate and also told me the car was for sale at $2000.
I immediatly got excited because thats inside my little brothers price range. What i found did not excite me.
The car had been sitting out for many years, last registered in 1998. The paint was absolutely shot, as fiberglass was showing. There was a few spots of damage on the body as well. The interior was COMPLETELY SHOT, as a window had been down for years and years. There was mold growing on the dash panels.
The worst part was that there was no engine and transmission. This car EVERYTHING would have to be redone. No joke, everything. I didnt even bother to look underneath the car...
Here is a pic:
$2,000 for a car with no engine or tranny? For a car that needs EVERY interior piece? for a car that needs body work AND paint work?
TheCorvetteBen
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,987
Likes: 144
From: Van Alstyne, TX
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote